Avalanche Signs Bowen Byram

The Colorado Avalanche Hockey Club announced today that the team has signed defenseman Bowen Byram to a three-year, entry-level contract. The Avalanche selected Byram with the fourth overall pick in the 2019 NHL Draft on June 21 in Vancouver.
Byram, 18, spent the 2018-19 season with the Vancouver Giants of the Western Hockey League, where he recorded 71 points (26g/45a) in 67 regular-season games. The Cranbrook, British Columbia, native led all WHL defensemen in goals and ranked third in points, earning WHL (West) First All-Star Team honors. He added 26 points (8g/18a) in 22 playoff games, leading all skaters in assists and points and becoming the first defenseman to ever lead the WHL in postseason scoring. Byram has accumulated 98 points (32g/66a) in 138 career WHL contests, all with Vancouver, and has totaled 33 points (11g/22a) in 29 playoff outings.

Internationally, Byram represented his country at the 2018 IIHF U18 World Championship in Russia, recording one point (0g/1a) in five contests. He tallied four points (1g/3a) in five games to help Canada capture the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup and suited up for Team Canada Red at the 2017 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, registering five points (1g/4a) in six outings.
Byram was rated the second-best North American skater in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings for the 2019 draft, having moved up from the fourth spot in the mid-term rankings.